6/24/13 12:20 PM EDT

The White House believes that Edward Snowden is still in Russia, press secretary Jay Carney said Monday, and that the Chinese government made a "deliberate choice" to let him leave Hong Kong.

"It is our assumption that he is in Russia," Carney told reporters. He referred further questions to Russian authorities. The Obama administration has been in contact with Russian officials, and "expects" the Russians to explore their options to expel Snowden, Carney said. He wouldn't offer more details on Snowden's precise whereabouts in Russia.

The Chinese government, Carney said, made a "deliberate choice to release a fugitive despite a valid arrest warrant, and that decision unquestionably has a negative impact on the U.S.-China relationship."

On June 17, Hong Kong officials acknowledged receipt of the U.S. government's request for cooperation on Snowden, and "did not respond with any additional documents stating the matter was under review" until June 21, when authorities requested more information, Carney said.

"The U.S. had been in communication with Hong Kong about these inquiries and we were in the process of responding to the request when we learned they had allowed a fugitive to leave Hong Kong. With regards to the Chinese government, we're not buying this was a technical decision by a Hong Kong immigration official," he said. Rather, it was an intentional decision.

Carney wouldn't characterize President Obama's reaction to the news that Snowden had departed Hong Kong for Russia, but did say that the president has been continually updated by his national security team. The administration, he said. has made clear its "frustration and disappointment with Hong Kong and China."

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"As long as walls exist in our hearts to separate us from those who don’t look like us or think like us or worship as we do, then we are going to have to work harder together to bring those walls of division down."